Broke Egg at Day 18, need help fast!!

[Penelopeeps]

Hey everyone! My little house serama went broody in August and wouldn't quit, she has no rooster or fertilized eggs so after a month or so I gave in and got 3 eggs from a neighbor (they aren't same breed they are polish hens so larger eggs than she lays and 3 fit under her perfectly) everything seemed to be developing fine when candling etc, but on day 18/19 one of the eggs broke. It is the top of the egg with the air space that broke off, totalling about 1/3 of the shell or a bit less, but it crumbled into pieces and can't be put back together like some posts suggest. The chick inside is in the bottom of the egg in a white membrane and its beak etc is not poking through yet, but its little heart is beating away! No blood or anything coming out when it cracked, the broken part was completely clean. Is there anything I can do to save this baby?? I'm so sad to see this happen and don't want it to die when it's so close to making it into this world. I read about the membrane drying out and that that coconut oil could be put on it, I don't have any of the other creams people suggested using. Am I doomed to watch this baby die? This is my first time hatching chicks and this serama is my first chicken in general so I am not versed in this matter at all, but seeing that heartbeat and not trying something to save it will kill me.

 

[SilverBirds]

Do you have a picture of the crack? Since it's so close to hatch date and the crack is where the air sac is, baby will mostly be fine. I would just keep the egg under mama and try not to mess with it to much.

 

[Penelopeeps]

Do you have a picture of the crack? Since it's so close to hatch date and the crack is where the air sac is, baby will mostly be fine. I would just keep the egg under mama and try not to mess with it to muc

Do you have a picture of the crack? Since it's so close to hatch date and the crack is where the air sac is, baby will mostly be fine. I would just keep the egg under mama and try not to mess with it to much.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

that looks......... questionable. do you have an incubator? in all my experience, I've only ever had a few like that, and they usually get shrink wrapped. I would try to monitor the chick and put it in an incubator if you have a reliable one. if you don't have coconut oil, you can use some PLAIN Neosporin.

 

[Penelopeeps]

that looks......... questionable. do you have an incubator? in all my experience, I've only ever had a few like that, and they usually get shrink wrapped. I would try to monitor the chick and put it in an incubator if you have a reliable one. if you don't have coconut oil, you can use some PLAIN Neosporin

that looks......... questionable. do you have an incubator? in all my experience, I've only ever had a few like that, and they usually get shrink wrapped. I would try to monitor the chick and put it in an incubator if you have a reliable one. if you don't have coconut oil, you can use some PLAIN Neosporin.

I did put coconut oil on the membrane which is why it's so clear in the photo and the chick is very visible now, it was cloudy white colored before. Sadly I have no incubator, I am working night shifts and came home to this this morning

 

[Huntmaster]

Sorry to hear your problem. Having an incubator would give you best chance at chick finishing hatching without any more damage. Putting it back under hen with that much shell removed would probably end with the rest of egg getting crushed or bacteria causing problems before being able to hatch. Do you know how this happened to the egg?

 

[Debbie292d]

If I had no incubator, I think what I'd do is run to Walmart and buy a cheapy one.

If that wasn't possible, I'd wrap it in one thin layer of cheesecloth, tape it with a tiny piece of scotch tape, put it back under the hen, and hope for the best. The cheesecloth would keep the chunks out of it at least and act as a makeshift shell while it completes growing and absorbing its yolk. It's very breathable too. I'd be checking on it every few hours though and that's not good for it nor momma or the others hatched or hatching.

 

[WoDia]

@Penelopeeps Hows the chick doing? You REALLY need an incubator. In my opinion, that’s the best chance it has to avoid any more of the shell getting smashed. The membrane needs to be kept moist and clean the rest of incubation… and the yolk must stay very clean and moist as well, if unabsorbed. It’s the chicks best chance. It looks pretty far along. Humidity will help to keep everything from drying out quickly. I’m wondering though whether it was your broody that did the damage. I raise Seramas, and they’re known to be excellent broodies. But, how else could the damage have happened, since you keep her inside? If it’s her, then you need that incubator asap, for all 3 eggs. I hope your tiny one makes it.